Quality and productivity indicators

The six quality and productivity (QP) indicators covering outpatient referrals and emergency admissions were agreed for a further year. Three new QP indicators on accident and emergency (A&E) attendances were introduced for one year and were aimed at reducing avoidable A&E attendances. These indicators continue to be aimed at securing a more effective use of NHS resources through improvements in the quality of primary care.

In February 2012, NHS Employers and the GPC published joint supplementary guidance and FAQs for the 2012/13 QP indicators. This guidance applied across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It was intended to assist Primary Care Organisations (PCOs) and practices in understanding and working through the continued and new QP indicators

The separately published Quality and Productivity Accident and Emergency guidance, published in late 2011, was incorporated in the national 2012/13 QOF guidance and is no longer available.

Miscellaneous changes

In addition to the above, a number of other changes were agreed as follows:

Changes to the points values for the following indicators:

BP4 - reduced by eight points to eight points,

BP5 - reduced by two points to 55 points

DM2 - reduced by two points to one point,

DM22 - reduced by two points to one point,

CKD2 - reduced by two points to four points,

Smoking3 (now Smoking 5) – reduced by five points to 25 points, and

Smoking4 (now Smoking 6) – reduced by five points to 25 points

A number of threshold changes as follows:

raising all lower thresholds for indicators currently 40-90 per cent to 50-90 per cent

raising all lower thresholds for indicators currently with an upper threshold between 70-85 per cent to 45 per cent

Error in 12/13 QOF Guidance for Osteoporosis indicator 1

NHS Employers and the General Practitioners Committee of the BMA were made aware of an error in the 2012/13 QOF guidance for indicator OST1. The sentence 'the DXA scan codes will only be those that indicate a positive result of osteoporosis, and T score codes will not be included' under the reporting and verification section was incorrect(see page 140 of the 2012/13 QOF guidance) and contradicted the business rules. It should have read 'The DXA scan codes will only be those that indicate a positive result of osteoporosis'. This correction did not impact the supporting business rules which were correct. A revised version of the 2012/13 guidance was not issued.

QOF frequently asked questions

NHS Employers and the GPC published an updated set of the joint QOF frequently asked questions (FAQs) for use by primary care organisations and general practice. These FAQs apply across all four countries and cover a number of historical issues and commonly asked questions.

The QOF queries process is clearly outlined in this FAQs document and we ask that this document is consulted before any queries are raised with the relevant parties.